Poultry News

Bird Flu Detected in Wild Duck in Japan

JAPAN - The H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus has been detected in samples from wild ducks on Honshu.

The Japanese veterinary authority sent Follow Up Report No.1 dated 21 November to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

The report confirms the presence of the H5N8 highly pathogenic bird flu virus in faecal samples from an unidentified wild duck on 18 November at Chosei-gun in Chiba prefecture, which is not far from Tokyo in the south-east of Honshu island.

It was confirmed on 20 November 2014 that two out of 50 faecal samples from Anatidae (wild birds, species unknown) were positive for H5N8 influenza A virus. The samples had been collected on 18 November 2014 and were subject to virus isolation and RT-PCR. The confirmation tests on the pathogenicity of the virus are conducted by the National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH)